Slat for venetian blinds



Oct. 15, 1935. w cH 2,017,210

SLAT FOR VENETIAN BLINDS Filed Aug. 16, 19:54

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 15, 1935 PATENT OFFICE SLAT FOR VENETIAN BLINDS Guy W. Kirsch, Sturgis. Micln, assignor to Kirsch Company, Sturgis, Mich.

Application August 16, 1934, Serial No. 740,039

g 19 Claims.

The objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a new and improved slat for.

Venetian blinds.

Second, to provide such a slat that is made up in sections so that various sizes of sections can be put together to form a slat of desired length.

Third, to provide such a slat in which, because of the sectional nature, scraps of the wood material ordinarily used in the making of such slats can be utilized for the ends.

Fourth, to provide such a slat that can, because of its sectional nature, be assembled from various stock pieces to fit any desired window so that it is possible to make up various size sections at the factory that can be assembled by branches, distributors, or dealers to form a Venetian blind slat of desired length without having to finish the ends of one piece slats which would be necessary on altering the length of such slats.

Fifth, to provide such a slat in which it is unnecessary to rout out or stamp out a slot for the cord with the resulting waste of material and weakening of the slat.

Sixth, to provide such a slat in which the various wood sections are held together by metallic fastening members.

Seventh, to provide such a slat in which a metallic clip is utilized, which clip has a slot formed therein by dies or otherwise to receive the lifting cord.

Eighth, to provide such a clip with a slot in which the edges are rolled or upset to present a smooth surface to the lifting cord.

Other objects and advantages pertaining to details and economies of construction and operation will appear from the description to follow. Preferred embodiments of my invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a slat made according to my invention having the center portion broken away.

Fig. 2 is a view showing the sections of slat separated from the metallic clip but in position to be inserted therein.

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the ends of the slat sections inserted in the metallic clip.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of a modification of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of a still further modification of the invention.

The parts will be identified by their numerals of reference which are the same in all the views.

My improved slat consists of wood slat sec-' tions. These are shown with the central section I and shorter end sections 2. These sections are joined together at their ends by metallic fastening members 3. These members are sheet metal members and are die formed from a strip of metal. The ends 4 are inturned to form inwardly facing channels 5 adapted to receive the ends of the sections I and 2 to clamp them.

In the preferred form, the member 3 is formed from rectangular piece of sheet metal which has 10 its corners bent down to form strip engaging prongs 6. Extending between the channels is a slot 1 which is so arranged that it lies transversely of the completed slat and serves as a passage for the ordinary lifting cord of the blind. This slot has its edges upturned as at 8 to form a flange 9. This presents a smooth surface to the lifting cord passing therethrough and since the flange 9 turns upwardly from the surface of the member 3, it serves as a spacer or stop for the ends of sections I and 2 inserted in the clip. It will be appreciated that the prong 6 may be omitted if desired and that the flange 9 can be omitted without departing from my invention, although these features make a superior slat. The flange 9, serving as a spacer, insures the even assembly of a series of slats and the prongs 6 serve to hold the inserted sections l and 2 positively in position.

In the construction shown, the ends 4 are bent over so that they extend beyond the slot 1 and I provide a cut-out portion ill in each end to permit free passage of the cord.

In the modification of the invention shown in Fig. 5, I utilize sections MI and I02. These are fastened by means of flattened metallic tubes II. The sections are spaced apart at the ends to form a slot ill! for the passage of the lift cord and the sections [0| and I02 are forced into the tubes II with the tube embracing the marginal portion of the section, presenting a substantially flat edge on the slat with a smooth portion at the inner side of the tube adjacent the slot I01. The tubes H are forced directly into the sections llil and I02 and the tube makes its own cut in the slat which makes it practically impossible to separate the sections of slat once they have been put together in. this manner. This is a convenient, inexpensive method of assembling. the slat from material that might be considered waste material in prior art construction.

In the modification of the invention shown in Fig. 6, I utilize sections llil and H12 and fasten them together by metallic members lli. These members are made on screw machines or the like and are tubular in form having open tubular ends beveled as shown for insertion in the wood end and a solid central portion 2 which serves as a stop and spacer. It will be appreciated that a similar stop or spacer means could be utilized in the tubes indicated in Fig. 5. This greatly assists in assembling the slats because the insertion of the member III is stopped when the end of the slat strikes thereagainst, leaving the slots I01 of desired width. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A slat for Venetian blinds comprising a plurality of separate sections joined at their ends by a rectangular sheet metal member with its ends inturned to form inwardly facing channels to receive the ends of said sections and clamp them, and having its corners bent down to form strip engaging prongs, said member having a slot therein disposed to extend transversely of the slat to permit passage of a lift cord through the slat and having its edges upset to present a" smooth surface to'the cord and to serve as a spacer for the ends of the sections lying in said member.

2. A slat for Venetian blinds comprising a plurality of separate sections joined at their ends by a sheet metal member with its ends intumed to form inwardly facing channels to receive the ends of said sections and clamp them, and having strip engaging prongs, said member having a slot therein disposed to extend transversely of the slat to permit passage of a lift cord through the slat and having its edges upset to present a smooth surface to the cord and to serve as a spacer for the ends of the sections lying in said member.

3. A slat for Venetian blinds comprising a plurality of separate sections joined at their ends by a sheet metal member with its ends intumed to form inwardly facing channels to receive the ends of said sections and clamp them, said member having a slot therein disposed to extend transversely of the slat to permit passage of a lift cord through the slat and having its edges upset to present a smooth surface to the cord and to serve as a spacer for the ends of the sections lying in said member.

4. A slat for Venetian blinds comprising a pinrality of separate sections joined at'their ends by a sheet metal member with its ends intumed to form inwardly facing channelsto receive the ends of said sections and clamp them, and having strip engaging prongs, said member having a slot therein disposed to extend transversely of the slat to permit passage of a lift cord through the slat and having its edges upset to present a smooth surface to the cord.

5. A slat for Venetian blinds comprising a pinrality of separate sections joined at their ends by a sheet metal member with its ends intumed to form inwardly facing channels to receive the ends of said sections and clamp them, said member having a slot therein disposed to extend transversely of the slat to permit passage of a lift cord through the slat andhaving its edges upset to present a smooth surface to the cord.

6. A slat for Venetian blinds comprising a pluralityof separate sections joined at their ends by a sheet metal member with its ends intumed to form inwardly facing channels to receive the ends of said sections and clamp them. and having strip engaging prongs, said member having a slot therein disposed to extend transversely of the slat to permit passage of a lift cord through the slat. I

7. A slat for Venetian blinds comprising a plurality of separate sections joined at their ends by a sheet metal member with its ends intumed 5 to form inwardly facing channels to receive the ends of said sections and clamp them, said member having a slot therein disposed to extend transversely of the slat to permit passage of a lift cord through the slat. l0

8. A slat for Venetian blinds comprising a plurality of separate sections joined at their ends by metallic fastening means and having their ends spaced apart to provide a space for the passage of a lift cord through the slat. l5

9. A metallic member for joining sections of slat for Venetian blinds comprising a rectangular sheet metal piece having its ends inturned to form inwardly facing channels to receive the ends of the sections and clamp them, said mem- 20 ber having its corners bent down to form strip engaging prongs and having a slot extending between the channels having its edges upset to form a smooth cord engaging surface and to serve as a spacer for sections inserted in said 25 member.

7 10. A metallic member for joining sections of slat for Venetian blinds comprising a sheet metal piece having its ends intumed to form inwardly facing channels to receive the ends of the sec- 80 tions and clamp them, said member having strip engaging prongs and having a slot extending between the channels having its edges upset to form a smooth cord engaging surface and to serve as a spacer for sections inserted in said 35 member.

11. A metallic member for joining sections of slat for Venetian blinds comprising a sheet metal piece having its ends intumed to form inwardly facing channels to receive the ends of the sec- 40 tions and clamp them, and having a slot extending between the channels having its edges upset to form a smooth cord engaging surface and to serve as a spacer for sections inserted in said member.

12. A metallic member for joining sections of slat for Venetian blinds comprising a sheet metal piece having its ends intumed to form inwardly facing channels to receive the ends of the sections and clamp them, said member having strip engaging prongs and having a slot extending between the channels.

13. A metallic member for joining sections of slat for Venetian blinds comprising a sheet metal piece having its ends intumed to form inwardly 5 facing channels to receive the ends of the sections and clamp them, and having a slot extending between the channels.

14. A slat for Venetian blinds comprising a plurality of separate sections spaced'from each 00 other to form a passage for a lift cord, each section joined at its end to the end of the next adjacent section by metallic fastening means comprising a pair of spaced apart flattened metallic tubes, each having a portion of the respective adjacent slat section ends forced into the adjacent end thereof with the tube embracing the marginal portion of said section.

15. A slat for Venetian blinds comprising a plurality of separate sections spaced from each other to form a passage for a lift cord, each section joined at its end to the end of the next adjacent section by metallic fastening means comprising a pair of spaced apart metallic tubes, each having a portion of the respective adjacent slat section ends forced into the adjacent end thereof with the tube embracing the marginal portion of said section.

16. A slat for Venetian blinds comprising a plurality of separate sections spaced from each other to form a passage for a lift cord, each section joined at its end to the end of the next adjacent section by metallic fastening means comprising a pair of spaced apart metallic tubes, each having a portion of the respective adjacent slat section ends forced into the adjacent end thereof.

17. A slat for Venetian blinds comprising a plurality of separate sections spaced from each other to form a passage for a lift cord, each section joined at its end to the end of the next adjacent section by metallic fastening means comprising a pair of spaced apart tubular metallic members having solid central portions serving as spacers, each such member having a portion of each adjacent slat section end forced into one of the opposite ends thereof cand agalnst said solid central portion.

18. A slat for Venetian blinds comprising a plurality of separate sections spaced from each other to form a passage for a lift cord, each section joined at its end to the end of the next adjacent section by metallic fastening means comprising a pair of spaced apart metallic members having a central spacer portion and end portions forced into the ends of the adjacent slat 10 sections with the spacer section abutting the ends of said slat sections.

19. A slat for Venetian blinds comprising a plurality of separate sections spaced from each other to form a passage for a lift cord, each sec- 15 

